Whether your purchase jewelry for friends, inherit valuable pieces or receive jewelry as a gift, it is important that you are aware of the best buying, selling and cleaning jewelry practices. In this article you will learn some handy tricks for getting the most out of the money and effort you put into jewelry.
Take a moment to consider how your valuable jewelry is stored and sorted. Boxes, holders, compartments, and hooks are all valuable tools for storing jewelry safely. Tossing all of your jewelry into the same box is a bad plan. Storing them improperly can damage the fragile pieces, and necklaces can get tangled with other pieces.
Arm yourself with a magnet and a magnifying glass when shopping for sterling silver jewelry. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. If your silver is sterling, you will also notice a mark on the piece. This mark might state .925, sterling, or ster. If your silver is not marked, it could be because it is not real!
Knowing what type of jewel you are buying when you purchase jewelry is very important. There are three unique types of stones: imitation, synthetic and natural. You have to know that imitation refers to colored plastic. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
Watch to see whether they usually wear necklaces or bracelets, or if they prefer dangly earrings to studs. This is a great place to start when picking out that special item.
Before buying a new item of jewelry, do a little research on recent trends. You will enjoy your jewelery even more if you can get it on sale.
Costume Jewelry
If you want to collect costume jewelry, concentrate on getting quality peices. Even though it is not as expensive as its precious counterpart, costume jewelry represents a significant investment, one that can be lost if the pieces are allowed to get worn and broken. A piece in good condition will be much more resourceful to you in the future.
When buying jewelry, think about what kind of stone would be right. Purchase stones that are a reflection of you who are, and match your skin tone as well. Neutral colored stones will work well with any outfit in your closet. Having a beautiful piece of jewelry is pretty worthless if you cannot wear it.
You should always make an effort to properly care for all of your jewelry. Different metals, stones, and settings have different needs to ensure proper maintenance. The best way to care for a particular piece of jewelry could be harmful to a different piece. If you are unfamiliar with the correct way to clean or maintain a piece, consult a jeweler.
You can untangle delicate necklaces that have become knotted. The first thing you need to do is get a piece of plastic wrap. Apply baby oil or mineral oil to your necklace after placing it on the plastic wrap. Use a straight pin to untangle the knot. Then wash off the baby oil or mineral oil with dish soap, and then pat dry.
When selling jewelry via the Internet, be sure to develop attractive and persuasive imagery of the pieces. A nice photo and description is essential since your online customer will not be able to see the piece in person. Ensure the focus of your pictures is the piece itself.
The cut, color and clarity of a diamond can make a bigger impression than size alone. Also, keep in mind the personality of the person you are giving the diamond to.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. The chlorine in pool water will corrode your jewelry and remove its shine. Over time, saltwater can be as bad. Your jewelry will last longer and stay more lustrous if you remember to take it off before getting into the water.
For most people, jewelry has significant monetary and sentimental value. Learn to properly care for your valuable jewelry, to protect not only your investment, but the memories it evokes. There is more to it than what you’ve read here, and continuing to learn can help you mazimize the wear and value of all your jewelry pieces for years to come.
